From Pantsuits To Pajamas

A lot of Filipinos believe that you can only find success when you leave your family and work somewhere far away, either abroad or in the main metropolitan cities in the Philippines. It’s common to find a lot of Filipinos workers who willingly endure loneliness and depression just so they can provide for their families. This was the situation for me and my family up until 3 years ago, when I found myself a job through a website that caters to companies that outsource to the Philippines.

Three years ago, my husband and I came at a crossroads. We were going to have a baby. We knew that even with the jobs we had we still wouldn’t be earning enough for the new addition to our family. And we really wanted this baby, we wanted to be with her as much as we could and see her grow up. We knew it wasn’t possible with the two of us working long hours and the long commutes we had to and from work.

Thankfully, I discovered outsourcing, the answer to my prayers.

My Introduction To Outsourcing
It was actually my sister who introduced me to outsourcing back in 2009. I had a regular job as a medical information analyst in Manila and was looking for ways to earn extra money without having to leave home. She knew that I was a pretty decent writer so she suggested that I post my resume on bestjobs.ph and onlinejobs.ph. I was able to find work as a freelance writer. Through those sites, I was able to supplement my income whenever I needed to.

I started working fulltime as a writer/editor in 2010, when I had my baby. I could have easily gone back to work as a medical information analyst but chose not to. I didn’t want to spend 4 hours a day commuting to and from work. I didn’t want to come home from a 12 hour workday (plus the 4 hour commute) bone tired and unable to take care of my baby. I didn’t want to wait for the weekend just to spend time with my husband and daughter.

Outsourcing To The Philippines: Win-Win Situation
John Jonas constantly talks about how outsourcing can help you by giving you more time to do what you want. What he doesn’t say is that outsourcing your business to the Philippines also gave us Filipinos more time for ourselves and our families. Sure, we still work 8-10 hours a day but we get to spend those hours at home. We get to adjust our work hours to suit our lives. With outsourcing, I have a fulltime job and still am a fulltime wife and mother. I even have time now to indulge a few hobbies (cooking and crafts) and help out in the family business.

In addition to having more time, I also have more money. I may not be earning as much as I used to as a medical information analyst but I’m also not spending as much. When I was working in an office in Manila, a third of my income would go to my work-related expenses like fare, food, and office clothes. Now, most of my income goes to my family because I don’t have to spend for those things.

Challenges Of An Outsourced Filipino Employee
I’m not saying that my experience with outsourcing is completely without problems. Sometimes, I miss dressing up for work and meeting co-workers in person. And at first, it was hard for me to focus on work, especially with the distractions at home. I had to discipline myself and set some boundaries. I even got a nanny so I could dedicate some time for work. But the great thing about this set up is my daughter still knows I’m with her at home and I’m still there to cater to her needs. Her nanny is more like a companion and a playmate, not a substitute mom.

It was also a little odd for me at first to have an employer who wasn’t constantly hovering over my shoulder. That was what I experienced working in an office. Now I appreciate it. I can’t believe how much I’ve learned and grown these past few months. And I’m really humbled by how much John trusts my work and ideas. He really respects us as employees. I’ve encountered Americans and Europeans before when I worked in Manila and a lot of them talked to me like I was stupid. It was really refreshing to find an American who actually respected my intelligence and talked to me as a professional.

And probably the hardest thing about my outsourcing job is that I really don’t get the same respect as I used to get from some of my fellow Filipinos. A lot of people don’t take my work seriously because I don’t wear a suit and I work at home. Despite the fact that I’m a good writer and am now training as an SEO specialist, a lot of people still see me as a stay-at-home wife “dabbling” on the internet.

Redefining Success For A Filipino Employee
For those who have already outsourced their business or are in the process of outsourcing to the Philippines, I want to thank you in behalf of the Filipinos who are working in this field. Working for you has allowed a lot of us to have a challenging career and a earn enough for our families. You’ve changed not just your employees’ lives but the lives of their families, friends, and loved ones as well.

Coming from a culture where most people believe that success can only be found by leaving our families and working abroad; outsourcing has redefined success for us. With outsourcing, Filipinos like me were able to define success on our terms: we can stay in the Philippines, be with our families, have a challenging career, and earn enough to have a comfortable lifestyle.